Anybody built a shooting range?

[clovergamecock]

I have an area that is nothing but woods for at least 200 yards. I have a ton of bricks that were pulled off a house we had moved from the land. These things would pile up high and wide. Then I am thinking I can cover them up with a thick layer of dirt. I would never use it as a rifle range but I am thinking that for small arms this would be safe. thoughts??

 

[whistlepig]

There is some information here:


NSSF | Shooting Ranges

 

[k0ua]

I built one out of creek gravel/stones as High as I could stack them, then covered that with dirt I dug from a hilltop I cut down with the FEL . Then had about 16 tons of black dirt to cover the whole thing to grow grass easily. Seeded it and grew some nice fescue grass. I had a really nice berm when I was done. I imagine you could use your bricks as a base, and cover it like you want to do, and you would be fine.

James K0UA

 

[Bigfoot62]

I have a 50 yard range in my back yard. Nothing fancy. Picnic table for shooting bench, plastic political signs for target holders, and a big dirt pile for a backstop. Mostly shoot rimfires here. A buddy of mine has a "real" 100 meter range just a mile up the road.

 

[whistlepig]

I have a backstop in my backyard but didn't build it. The previous owner of our place had it built before we bought the place. He was a concealed carry instructor. It's about 8' high, 30' wide, and 10' thick. He said it was made of dirt covered clay. It easily stops everything that we have shot into it.

 

[Ken45101]

I think the issue has more to do with stopping a poorly aimed round than being thick enough to stop a bullet, especially a handgun round. I recently read one reco for 20 feet high!

Partially it depends on what is behind the berm: five miles of empty fields is one thing, a subdivision is quite another.

It's best to have a big hillside behind the range if possible.

I believe the NRA has some information on building a range.

 

[bucktaker]

We have a small range I dug into a hillside 8-10 ft. i piled the dirt up above the hill and we place the targets low. Has worked for the rounds we shoot. .223,.22,12 ga slugs,.50cal

 

[bcp]

If you have any choice, place the range so the sun is behind you and shining on the face of the targets at the time of day when you will be doing most of your shooting.

Bruce

 

[Lou66]

I build one every year,, I set five round bale 4/5 on end then stack four on top,, I have about 3/4 mile behind this mostly open it for hang guns or shot gun only..I use these later for compost,, Lou

 

[TripleR]

As mentioned, lots of us have built backstops. My sons and I built one with berms on three sides right before a flood came in and destroyed much of it. It was going to be a commercial range for training and as such, we were going to hire someone to come in and finish with the proper angles, height etc. at the Department of Conservation Range. If you don't have the angle just right, you can easily get deflection.

As mentioned always be thinking about where that bullet is going to land if it gets away. We use to qualify at a Police Range with the berm no higher than twenty feet and a town behind it. I was very uncomfortable and when possible, chose another location.

I would not be uncomfortable using bricks, rocks as a filler with plenty of dirt covering them.